Dehydration-melting of Biotite Gneiss and Quartz Amphibolite from 3 to 15 kbar

We performed vapor-absent melting and crystallization experimentson two bulk compositions that model metamorphic rocks containinga single hydrous phase: a biotite gneiss [37% bio (mg-number55), 34% qtz, 27% plg (An₃₈), 2% ilm] and a quartz amphibolite[54% hbl (mg-number 60), 24% qtz, 20% plg (An₃₈), 2% ilm]. Experimentswere performed at 3 and 5 kbar in internally heated pressurevessels (IHPV), and at 7, 10, 125 and 15 kbar in piston cylinderapparatus (PC), from the vapor-absent solidi to (at least) thetemperature at which the hydrous mineral disappeared. Dehydration-meltingbegins at similar temperatures in both bulk compositions, rangingfrom T850C at P = 3 kbar T930C at P = 15 kbar. The hydrousmineral disappears 50C above the solidus in both systems, exceptin IHPV experiments at f(O₂) above Ni–NiO, in which biotitestability extends up to atleast 80C above the solidus. At theT at which the hydrous minerals disappear the biotite gneissproduces 2–3 times more melt than the quartz amphibolite(50–60 wt% vs 20–30 wt%). In both systems, variationsin melt productivity with P are controlled by three competingfactors: (1) the positive d P/dT slopes of the solidi, (2) decreasingH₂O activity with increasing P at constant H₂O content, and(3) Na₂O activity, which increases with P concomitantly withbreakdown of plagioclase. Melt productivities at T = 920–950Care maximized at intermediate pressures (7 kbar). The biotitegneiss produces strongly peraluminous granitic melts (SiO₂>70wt%) and residual assemblages of quartz norite (P>125 kbar)or garnet pyroxenite (P>125 kbar). The quartz amphiboliteproduces strongly peraluminous granodioritic melts (SiO₂>70wt%) that coexist with clinopyroxene + orthopyroxene + plagioclase+ quartz at P>10 kbar)garnet. The results of coupled meltingand crystallization experiments on the quartz amphibolite suggestthat strongly peraluminous granitoid rocks (e.g. cordierite-bearingand two-mica granites) can be derived from melting of Al-poorprotoliths. KEY WORDS: dehydration-melting; biotite gneiss; amphibolite; felsic magmas ^*Corresponding author